Former museum gets new lease of life from Wildcats

The former Stamford Museum has had a new lease of life breathed into it as a second home for a drama school.

Wildcats Academy, based in Castle House, St Peters Hill is inviting members of the public to come and see the former Stamford Museum building tomorrow between midday and 3pm.

It will be officially opened at 1.30pm by six of Wildcats students, who have been members of the school since it was founded in September 2008 at Stamford Arts Centre.

The building has been brought back to life and is now ready to become a second home for the Wildcats with the Post 16 Academy utilising the space during the week and a full programme of classes for children and adults during the evenings and weekends.

Stamford Museum has been closed for more than four years and Wildcats has been working with South Kesteven District Council over the past nine months to secure a lease to the building due to the growth of the Post 16 Academy – a full time school run in partnership with New College Stamford.

The district council did some repair work to the building and Wildcats has redecorated the building and installed mirrors in the dance studio and a barre. So far, Wildcats has invested £25,000 into the project.

Wildcats founder Caz Dolby said: “We are very excited about the opening of our second building and what better people to open it than those who have supported us from the outset.

“Our VIP’s have seen the journey Wildcats has made over the past seven years and it was right they should be here for this event.”

Caz said the new premises would allow the school to expand its Post 16 Academy, offering up to another 60 full time places for local 16 to 25-year-olds. It also means Wildcats can offer more classes for children under 16, as well as some fitness classes.

Wildcat VIP Bethan Hurford, 14, from Ryhall, said : “I remember finding out about the first academy and I was so excited to get started in a building we could call our own. Now we have a second academy and I am so honoured to be opening it with friends who I have been with since the start.”

To find out more about the classes that will be taking place at the centre from Monday, visit www.wildcats.org.uk